Proverbs 4:1-13

A Father's Example

1 Listen, [my] sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

2 for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching.

3 When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,

4 he taught me and said: "Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.^[a]

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;^[b] don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you.

7 Wisdom is supreme-so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.^[c]

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

9 She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty."^[d]

Two Ways of Life

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.

11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life.

Proverbs 4:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 4

In this chapter Solomon advises to seek after wisdom, to avoid bad company, and to continue in the right paths of goodness and truth: he excites attention to what he had to say, from the relation he stood in to the persons addressed; from the nature of his instructions, which were good and profitable; and from his own example, in attending to those his parents gave him, Pr 4:1-4; He exhorts above all things to get wisdom, from the superior excellency of it, and from the preservation, promotion, and honour, to be had by it, Pr 4:5-9; and he further enforces big exhortations, from their being the means of a comfortable life, and of the prolongation of it, and of leading in a right way without straitness or stumbling, Pr 4:10-13. And then proceeds to caution against bad company, and going into a bad way of life; which is enforced from the mischief done by those that walk in it, and from the darkness of it, to which the path of the just is opposed, Pr 4:14-19. And the exhortation to attend to and observe his instructions, and keep them, is repeated, from the consideration of their being life and health to them, Pr 4:20-22; and that they might be preserved, and not departed from, direction's are given about ordering the heart, mouth, lips, eyes, and feet, Pr 4:23-27.

Footnotes

• [a] Pr 3:1-2; 6:20-23; 7:1-2
• [b] Pr 16:16
• [c] Pr 16:16
• [d] Pr 16:31